November 2016

November 02, 2016

While much of America is waiting for Nov. 8 to come, the date that Tallahassee's lobbying corps is waiting for is Nov. 10.

That's the date that incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran (pictured left) has said he will distribute proposed new rules for the Florida House.

And judging by the chatter among lobbyists, they are viewing it as an oncoming train that will roll right over them and greatly affect the $100 million-plus a year influence industry.

Corcoran, a Republican from Land O' Lakes, has made no secret of his intention to blow up the process or in the words of his GOP caucus designation speech "cleaning up our own house."

And that means adopting rules and laws that will greatly impact what lobbyists can and can't do - and impact what legislators can and can't do.

One of his most notable proposals is his plan to end the "revolving door" between the Legislature and lobbying by pursuing a constitutional amendment that would bar legislators from lobbying the legislative or executive branch for six years not two.

But another big change - which Corcoran himself alluded to a year ago - and which is expected to show up in the new rules is a requirement that lobbyists disclose a lot more information.

Lobbyists will be required to not only name their clients, but to force them to disclose - at least on the House side - the names of the bills, amendments and even the appropriation items they are lobbying House members on.

There's no doubt that if this goes through it will be one of the most substantial changes to lobbying since then-Senate President Tom Lee shepherded the gift ban bill that also required contract lobbyists to disclose (somewhat) how much they are getting paid by their clients. Corcoran's proposed change will allow reporters and the public to match the money paid to the lobbyists to the items that they are lobbying on.

Corcoran, who has been unwilling to share many details of the proposed rules because there's still being worked on, told the Times that it's a "disgrace" that local governments use taxpayer dollars to hire contract lobbyists.

There are rumblings that there are many other changes in the works - including serious changes in the budget process now utilized by the Legislature.

Corcoran - with House Speaker Steve Crisafulli - already forced lawmakers to once again attach their names to budget items they were seeking. The question is whether there will be additional changes designed to bring additional transparency to the way the budget is crafted. Right now items drop into the budget at the last minute with little idea where it came from or who it will benefit.

Now will there be pushback? Absolutely.

Corcoran's motives are already under question, with some positing that this is his way of drawing attention to himself in a possible run-up to a 2018 bid for governor. Corcoran for the record demurs when he is asked the question and said he is gearing up to be speaker.

Regardless, however, the adoption of sweeping House rules will immediately place attention on the Florida Senate - which has had a rocky relationship with House in recent years. Will the Senate adopt similar rules on its side? Or will senators be forced to explain why a higher level of transparency works for one chamber but not the other?

When lawmakers convene for their organizational session on Nov. 22 it could be the start of a tumultuous period for the Florida Legislature and for the hundreds of men and women who rely on the Legislature for their living.

TALLAHASSEE'S LIKELY NEXT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN WAS ON PAYROLL OF BIG TRUMP BACKER

And speaking of lobbying, former state senator - and likely member of Congress after Nov. 8 - Al Lawson has been straight forward that he has worked as a lobbyist for the last several years for several clients including Florida State University and on behalf of school choice proponents.

But financial disclosures Lawson filed earlier this year revealed that he was on the payroll of the high-powered lobbying firm of Brian Ballard, who is a top fundraiser for Republicans including GOP president nominee Donald Trump. Ballard also has lobbied on behalf of Trump.

Lawson's financial disclosure filed May 16 with the clerk of the U.S. House lists Ballard Partners as source of income exceeding $5,000. This form said that Lawson's duties for Ballard Partners were "lobbying."

Three days later Lawson filed an amended form that changed his duties for Ballard from "lobbying" to "consulting."

(It's worth noting that Lawson's state lobbying registration filings do not show him registering for lobbying on behalf of Ballard.)

When asked about it a few weeks ago, Khloe Greenwood, a spokeswoman for Lawson's campaign said: "Senator Lawson is not currently on payroll with Ballard Partners. He was a consultant during the legislative session earlier this year, and provided counsel for governmental and public affairs on a variety of projects."

Still the connection to Ballard and his firm may have proved useful to Lawson in other ways.

Jacksonville reporters noted that Susie Wiles, a top Trump campaign operative in Florida who also works for Ballard Partners, helped Lawson in his campaign to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown. Lawson defeated Brown, who is currently facing federal fraud charges, in the Democratic primary. In one article there's a paraphrased quote from Wiles saying that the reason she's helping Lawson is because he had a good relationship with the Ballard firm.